The Northampton softball team survived frigid temperatures and a furious Emmaus comeback to claim a 9-7 victory in their first game of year on Tuesday afternoon.

The K-Kids built a 3-0 lead in the third and fourth innings by taking advantage of some Emmaus defensive miscues. A two-out error in the third set the table for Kylie Eberts who delivered a double down the left field line to score Ava Cascario from second base. Two batters later, Hannah Duerr delivered a single to plate Eberts with the second run of the game.

Hailey Makovsky scored in the fourth inning when Ryley Colburn’s sharply hit grounder eluded the Emmaus shortstop went into left field.

The Hornets got back into the game in the top of fifth, scoring 3 unearned runs with two outs, courtesy of a pair Kids’ errors.

Northampton reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning after Duerr and Ro Echevarria hit back-to-back 1-out doubles to put the Kids up 4-3. The home team kept the offense rolling when 3 batters later, Brooke Cooper launched a 3-run homer over the left field fence to make the score 7-3.

Cooper described her big hit, “I haven’t been hitting well this season, but when I hit that home run and I felt it go off the bat, I was so happy. It felt great. The ball stung coming off the bat on other swings, but that one came right off the barrel. You know when you hit it. It goes so smoothly off the bat.”

Eberts added a 2-run single later in the inning to give herself a 3 RBI game.

Those two runs proved to be the difference as Emmaus hit back-to-back homers in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 9-6 with no outs. After a single, Makovsky came in to relieve Mikell Kulp and got the final three outs while the inherited runner scored the final run of the game.

Head coach Kristy Henritzy offered her mixed review of the contest, “It was that type of game. It could have gone either way at any time. We’ve got some things to tighten up for sure. Working off of instinct instead of waiting to be coached. Just getting to that level of confidence. They proved they had heart. They could have rolled over a couple of times. We’ll have to see what happens.”

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By Jeff Moeller

Special to the Press

Northampton’s baseball team opened its baseball season with an 11-3 home loss to Emmaus at Lisetski Field.

Gavin Pychinka had two RBIs for the Konkrete Kids (0-1), and he also had one of their hits. Billy Stuhldreher and Mason Haupt.

Erick Castro started the game for the Kids, and he was relieved by Haupt, Tommy Hensel, and Sam Erschen.

“We didn’t play well and Emmaus did,” said head coach Mick Sugra. “They got some big hits early on. They hit some balls just out of our reach. Everything we hit in the air was caught. Their pitcher threw a heck of a game.

“Our pitchers had trouble locating spots and their lineup took advantage. We knew they had eight returning starters and knew they’d be pretty good. We need to learn from this one and continue to try and improve. We will be ok.”

The Kids will host Easton Friday.